Singing Valentine's Delivered in Westside

SINGING VALENTINES — Valentine’s Day expressions ring out loud and clear when the Santa Monica Oceanaires come knocking at your door with a repertoire of traditional love songs.

The “singing valentines” are delivered by a cappella barbershop quartets — consisting of a bass, a tenor, a lead and a baritone — that are called out to various locations, including offices, homes, schools, and restaurants. This year, the quartets will deliver personalized “singing valentines” to sweethearts, parents, families, or friends on both Friday, February 13th, and Valentine’s Day Saturday, February 14th.

The group’s repertoire includes barbershop classics “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” and “Heart of My Heart,” but occasionally there has been a need for an encore, according to Oceanaires spokesman Jerry Walker.

“We were called out to a house in Santa Monica one time to sing for a 100-year-old mother,” says Walker. “Her daughters hired us. Once we were through with the two songs, the lady was so choked up, she started crying. So we had to sing a happy song or two to help her regain her composure.”

The singers have been delivering the singing valentines each year since about 1990, and the activity is the main annual fundraiser for the singing group, which has existed since 1975.

The Santa Monica Oceanaires are a community group with members of various levels of experience -- from shower-singers to church choir members to professional musicians -- who all share a love of singing. Their enthusiastic young director, Ben Lowe, is a classically-trained opera singer. “Every chorus rehearsal is like a little master class in singing,” says Walker.

The chorus rehearses on Monday nights at Grace Lutheran Church in Culver City.

The singing valentines can be ordered for as little as $50.

For more information or to place an order go to www.singingvalentinesla.com or call (323) 247-SING